Agitator for washing machines



March 1 1927' s. E. SCHROEDER AGI'IATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Fil ed March 1924 ill);

Java or clothes, and comprising,

Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES SIMON E. SOHBOEDEB, OI N 'EWTON, IOWA,

assmnoa or one-1mm '10 om: unwra- KANUIACTURING COMPANY, OF NEWTON, IOWA.

AGITA'IOR FOR WASHING MACHIENES.

Application nled larch 24, 1824, Serial No. 701,429. Renewed March 8, 1925.

I The object of my invention is to provide an agitator of simple, durable and inexpensive construction, especlally designed for use in connection with machines for washing in its construction a series of flexible ru bing and agitating blades so constructed and arranged that they will impart a sufiicient degree of agitation to the water within the tub, and also apply to the clothes being operated on .an eflicient bility of the agitator blades, whereby they will bend and adapt themselves to the contour of the mass of clothes being washed, and will, to a great extent, follow this contour and produce a rubbing action upon the clothes at all times; and

Further in'this connection it is my object to rovidev an agitator. of this class wh1ch 0 will not tend to injure or tear the clothes being washed. y

A further object is to provide means of simple, durable and inexpensive construction for detachably connecting the flexible blades to the agitator body, whereby they may be readily,- quickly and easily removed or replaced, and at the same time firmly supported and connected to the agitator bog; when in use. y invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my as claims, and illustrated in the accompanymg drawings, in which? igure 1 shows a top or plan view of an" agitator embodying my invention.

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of same. a .Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation of an agitator embodying my invention, and shown in position engaging clothes being washed, to illustrate the manner in which the flexible agitator blades yield and confo1('1m to'the contour of the mass of clothes; an

Figure 5 shows a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referrin to the accompanying drawings, I have use the-reference numeral 10 to indicate enerally the agitator body. It is prefera 1y, disk shaped and made of aluminum or other' material that will not rust or corrode when subjected to the uses for whichagitators ofthis class are ordinarily employe On its upper side is a socket 11 designed to receive an agitator shaft 12, and on its under surface there is a down- 50 wardly extending rib 13 around its circumference and a series of radial bracing ribs 14. Each of these radial bracing ribs is forked at 15 to provide two parallel downrubbing action, due to the shape and flexi--'Wardly extending ribs1'6 extending to a point spaced apart from the center of. the agitator body to the rib 13, thus forming a downwardly extended flange to. receive and completely surround the upper ends of the agitator blades, hereinafter described. 170

The agitator blades are indicated generally by the reference numeral 17, and preferably made of relatively soft flexible rubber. Each has its upper edge shaped to enter between the ribs 16 and each blade has its outer edge extended downwardly and outwardly at 18, then curved downwardly and inwardly at 19 and then u wardly and inwardldy at 20. Each bla e also has its outer ge rounded, as shown at 21 in Figure 2.

For connecting the flexible blades to the agitator body I have provided in the upper ed geof each blade two metal sleeves 22 open at both ends, and adjacent to the end of each sleeve within the agitator blade body, I have formed a transverse opening 23 to receive a nut 24'. Bolts 25 are passed through the agitator body 10 and through the sleeve 22, and are then screwed into the nuts-24 which are held againstrotation. by the sides of the openings 23. These bolts are turned until the metal sleeves 22 are firmly clamped between the nut 24 at one end and the under surface of the body 10 at the other end.

Obviously, by this arrangement the agitator blades are firmly supported when in use and yet may be readily and quickly attachedor detached when desired.

In practical use, it has been demonstrated that with my improved agitator, the water and suds within the tub will be agitated in a satisfactory manner, and as the blades are being alternately rotated in opposite directions over the surface of the clothes contained within the tab, they will yield and bend and adapt themselves to the changein contour of the surfaceof the clothes being I metal sleeves extending operated on, and that the soft flexible rubber. will removedirt fromthe clothes much more efliciently'than metal or wood.

It has also been demonstrated that by use of flexible rubber blades of-the character described, the wear and tear upon the garments being washed is reduced to a minimum.

What I claim is:

1. An agitator for washing machines com-1 prising a metallic body portion, a series of flexible blades, each blade being provided with openings at one side to receive nuts, from said openings to the adjacent edge 0 the blade, and bolts extended through the body, through said sleeves and into said-nuts for connecting the b1adestothebody..

v 4. Anagitatoroftheclam described, am- 1 prising a body portion, a series of flexible lades extending radially relative to the body portion and secured to the under surface thereof, each blade having its outer edge extended downwardly and outwardly, then curved downwardly and inwardly and then upwardly and inwardly toward the center'of the agitator body, said edges being rounded in transverse section.

5. An agitator for washing machines comprising a metallic disk shaped body portion laying on its under surface a series oibracmg ribs so shaped and arranged as to receive and completely surround the upper ends of agitator blades, and a series of agitator blades mounted in said ribs and held thereby against movement either laterally or inwardly and outwardly, and means for securing the blades to the body portion.

6. A washing machine agitator compris- \ing a disc having a plurality of radial slots,

and blades mounted in said slots to exert a yielding pressure on the clothes.

A washing machine agitator compris ing .a disc having a plurality of radial slots, and blades of resilient material having grooves to receive the edges of said slots an ada ted to exert a yielding pressure on the 'clot es.- In testimony whereof aflix my signa ture.

SIMONE. SCHROEDER. 

